by Laura Beth

Tag #58: The “All About The Reading” Tag

Image Credit: YouTube

Thrice Read! Happy two-year anniversary, by the way! Thanks for publishing so many awesome tags!

Here’s the link to their original post:

The “All About the Reading” Tag

What do you look for most when you pick up a book?

A) A beautiful writing style
B) A character driven story
C) A plot driven story

Honestly, I’m picking C. The plot has to hook me from the get-go.

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What are your pet peeves in books?

Multiple POVs that are poorly executed.
Characters that diminish their self-worth to attract the love interest.
I agree with Thrice Read – Using / having pregnancy as a conflict? No, thanks!
Most love triangles. They don’t typically end well in real life, so I don’t really want to see it play out in a book. Next!

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If you could print one quote on your wall, which one would it be?

“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

~ Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

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Which genre would you like to explore more?

Science fiction. I want to re-read Ender’s Game, and then finally read more of Card’s books. Then, we’ll see what happens from there!

I also want to try my hand with Dark Matter, by Blake Crouch.

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Was there ever a movie adaptation you liked better than the book?

The Notebook (2004) was one of the best adaptations.

However, no movie adaptation will likely top a book, for me. Books will always win.

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If one of your favorite books would be adapted or get a new adaptation, which book would it be and which role would you like to play?

I would love to see a modern retelling of The Great Gatsby. I think I’d like to play a female version of Nick Carraway – How’s that for turning something on its head?

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A hyped book you wouldn’t recommend at all?

As much as I want to say Fifty Shades of Grey, I didn’t get past the first few pages before I completely stopped. I will never read any of them, ever. So, technically, they don’t count.

So, I’ll go with Twilight. Initially, I though it was an intriguing series, but I never truly bought into the vampire side. This is also coming from someone who was basically forced to watch the first two movies while in college. I haven’t seen any of the others.

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A book that highly influenced your life and way of thinking?

Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card.

Double points for using the same answer twice!

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Are you a fan of re-reading books, do you do it often?

Yes.

I re-read The Great Gatsby and To Kill A Mockingbird every year.

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Which book title could easily be the title of your life?

Eat, Pray, Love (I’m horrible with questions like this!)

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Which book should be required reading for everyone?

I don’t like to use the term “required reading,” but here’s my list of my recommended books (in no particular order):

Dear Mr. Henshaw, Beverly Cleary
Holes, Louis Sachar
Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone, J.K. Rowling
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie
Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card
To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee
Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank
Looking for Alaska, John Green

What would you recommend for required reading? Why?

Thanks for another great tag!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

06.06.18

by Laura Beth

Tag #57: First Date Book Tag

Image Credit: Pinterest

Thrice Read does some of the best book tags! Here’s another one!

Here’s the link to their original post:

First Date Book Tag

The awkward first date – A book where something felt off. It wasn’t a bad book, but lacked that spark for you.

Go Set A Watchman, Harper Lee.

I wanted to like this book so much. But, it felt weird almost the whole time I was reading it. However, I can’t rate it higher than a 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

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The cheap first date – A book that turned out less than you expected.

This Is Where It Ends, Marieke Nijkamp.

This is one of those books where I was really intrigued by the synopsis, but ended up being let down. It didn’t help that the main plot coincided with a real-life national tragedy, either.

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Well-prepared first date – A book that was better than expected.

The Woman in Cabin 10, Ruth Ware.

I’d heard good things for a while, before Al bought me my own copy for Christmas. But, this book knocked it out of the park. One of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read so far. Give me more!

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Hot but dumb – A pretty book, not so hot on the inside.

Twilight series, Stephenie Meyer.

Vampires aren’t for me.

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Blind date – A book you picked up not knowing anything about it.

The War That Saved My Life, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.

I found this book purely by chance during a Barnes & Noble expedition. Completely worth it!

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Speed dating – A book you read super fast.

Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne.

I was writing the Book Review just two days after starting it. I couldn’t put it down! I think that’s nearly a record for me.

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The rebound – A book you read too soon after a book hangover and it kind of ruined the book for you.

Camino Island, John Grisham.

I ended up in a two-week reading slump right after starting it, and once I picked it up again, I knew I needed to set it aside. It’s back on my nightstand after several months, and I look forward to reading it all the way through very soon.

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Overly enthusiastic date – A book that felt like it was trying too hard.

Allegiant, Veronica Roth.

See my review of the trilogy for more.

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The perfect first date – A book that did everything right for you.

Girls Auto Clinic Glove Box Guide, Patrice Banks.

I loved this book. She offers excellent advice, tips, and experience. Be a #shecanic like Patrice and I!

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Humiliating first date – A book you’re embarrassed to admit you liked / embarrassed to see reading in public for whatever reason.

I’ve read quite a few of the Gossip Girl books.

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

05.25.18

by Laura Beth

Tag #53: OMG That Song Book Tag

Image Credit: YouTube

The Book Nut did another awesome book tag!

Here’s the link to their original post:

OMG That Song Book Tag

The Basics:

For each question I will be giving both song and book that go with the question. They don’t have to go together, but sometimes they may.

Let us begin!

My Jam: A song you have to listen to no matter how many times you’ve heard it and a book that you’ll never get sick of…

Song: I agree with The Book Nut – “Sugar We’re Going Down” by Fall Out Boy. I almost instantly recognize it when it comes on the radio or a streaming playlist. And then I sing along. Badly, but I sing along every single time.

Book: The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I re-read it every year.

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Throwback: A song that reminds you of the cringeiest time in your life and a book you read that you would wouldn’t like if you read it now…

Song: “Everytime We Touch” by Cascada. It was one of my ex-boyfriend’s favorite songs. Considering we were together from 2006-2010, I listened to it A LOT. I can hardly listen to it now.

Book: Ugh. I agree with The Book Nut again – Allegiant by Veronica Roth takes the cake!

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Replay: A recent song that you have on repeat and a recent favorite book…

Song: I think The Book Nut and I are on the same wavelength. I love “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana. The whole soundtrack is great, but I love the message in this particular song.

Book: The Woman in Cabin 10, by Ruth Ware.

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Gets Me: A song that is literally me and a book that is me in book form…

Song: “Mine” by Taylor Swift. It describes my feelings for my husband almost perfectly. I knew I wanted to incorporate this song into our wedding, somehow. I ended up singing it to him during our rehearsal dinner, complete with our bridal party holding handmade posters that spelled out “You are the best thing that’s ever been mine.”

Book: Ugh. This one. So unbelievably difficult.

If I had to pick just one, I’d pick Amelia’s Notebook, by Marissa Moss. I devoured these books as a kid. Amelia reminded me of me – She even looked like me. Totally 90s. Plus, it inspired me to keep journaling and writing, off and on, for years.

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WUT: A weird song that you liked anyways and a unique book that stuck out to you for some reason…

Song: “Gangnam Style” by Psy. I love it!

Book: Girls Auto Clinic Glove Box Guide, by Patrice Banks. I wanted to buy this book right after listening to her interview on NPR’s Fresh Air podcast. It’s packed full of information, true stories, and inspiration! As a woman, I sincerely appreciate her dedication to teaching women about their cars (and men, too) and making everyone feel more confident.

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Let’s Go: Pick your best pump up song and a book that inspires you…

Song: “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars.

Book: Grace and Grit: My Fight for Equal Pay and Fairness at Goodyear and Beyond, by Lilly Ledbetter. I love memoirs. But, this one was eye-opening to me. It will stay on my bookshelf forever.

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Chill: Your best chill or relaxing song and a book you’d curl up with on a rainy day…

Song: “Someone Like You” by Adele. Her voice is so soothing!

Book: Anything by John Grisham.

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Addicting: A guilty pleasure song and a light, trashy read you can’t help but love…

Song: “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley.

Book: I hate to call any type of book trashy. But, guilty pleasure? Definitely Nicholas Sparks.

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Nostalgia: A throwback song you look back on fondly and a book you read and loved when you were young…

Song: “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys. I spent many a time in front of my mirrored closet doors with my hairbrush as a microphone.

Book: The entire Baby-Sitters Club and Baby-Sitters Little Sister series, by Ann M. Martin. I read and re-read them between the library and my own collection.

Tag – You’re It!

Jenna – Bookmark Your Thoughts
Kristian – Life Lessons Around The Dinner Table
Laurie – Work, Play and Chardonnay

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

05.24.18

by Laura Beth

Awesome Authors #15: Orson Scott Card

Image Credit: AZ Quotes

I was first introduced to Orson Scott Card when I was entering high school. We were assigned to read Ender’s Game, something that I initially dreaded!

Born in Richland, Washington, in August 1951, he is the third of six children. He is a great-great-grandson of Brigham Young. His older brother, Arlen Card, is a notable composer and arranger. Card was raised in Santa Clara, California; Mesa, Arizona; and Orem, Utah. Raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church, or Mormon church) church, Card was a missionary in Brazil, and graduated from Brigham Young University (BYU). He also attended the University of Utah, and spent a year at the University of Notre Dame in a Ph.D program.

Card started primarily as a poet. While a theater major, he began doctoring scripts, and eventually wrote his own one-act and full-length plays. Several were produced by faculty directors at BYU. He delved into fiction writing, and his earliest stories evolved into The Worthing Saga.

He was an associate editor at the Ensign, and moved to Salt Lake City. He currently teaches English at Southern Virginia University. In addition to writing under his given name, Card has written under multiple pseudonyms.

He lives in Greensboro, North Carolina, with his wife, Kristine. They have had five children, all named after authors their parents have admired: Michael Geoffrey (Geoffrey Chaucer), Emily Janice (Emily Bronte and Emily Dickinson), Charles Benjamin (Charles Dickens), Zina Margaret (Margaret Mitchell), and Erin Louisa (Louisa May Alcott). Charles had cerebral palsy, and passed away just after his 17th birthday. Erin died the day she was born.

He has been awarded the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award multiple times, and has been the only author to win both science fiction’s top U.S. prizes in consecutive years. He was also recognized by the American Library Association (ALA) in 2008 with their Margaret A. Edwards Award, in which a writer and a particular body of work is recognized for “significant and lasting contributions to young adult literature.”

Ender’s Game (1985)

Cover shows a futuristic aeroplane landing on a lighted runway.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

This is one of the best science fiction books that I have ever read. Although it was assigned reading, I ended up re-reading it while still in high school. The movie adaptation (2013) was also very well done.

For someone who used to be a huge sci-fi skeptic, this is the book that turned it around for me.

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Speaker for the Dead (1986)

Image Credit: Wikipedia

This is one book that has been on my radar, but have yet to read.

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Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus (1996)

Image Credit: Wikipedia

I’ve always been fascinated by alternate histories. This one looks interesting.

What about you? Have you read any of Orson Scott Card’s books or work?

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

05.17.18

by Laura Beth

Commentary #74: The “New Science of Psychedelics”

Image Credit: NPR

Many of you know that I enjoy listening to podcasts. One that I listen to regularly is NPR’s Fresh Air podcast.

This week, Terry Gross interviewed Michael Pollan, a world-renowned author. His books have typically focused on food and agriculture.

However, his new book, titled How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence, discusses the history of psychedelics, and the “new” uses of them to help treat anxiety, depression, and helping cancer patients face their mortality.

There have been two phases of clinical trials up until now, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just approved Phase III, which is “testing of drug on patients to assess efficacy, effectiveness and safety.”

In researching for the book, Pollan himself became a “reluctant psychonaut” with LSD and psilocybin (magic mushroom) to see if these effects were real.

I won’t tell you Pollan’s results, but it’s a really interesting process. I recommend listening to the podcast version of the show, as it’s an extended edition, where Pollan and Gross discuss the history of psychedelics, which is so fascinating to learn. It’s amazing to learn how LSD was first synthesized, and how it has had a turbulent history. Pollan also discusses psilocybin to an extent, which is another interesting part of the story.

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For me, I was definitely more than a little skeptical. I’ve never used any drugs or psychedelics in my life. I’ve seen counselors and therapists.

However, Pollan lessened my skepticism a bit during his interview with Gross. One of his interview subjects was a woman who had survived ovarian cancer. She was absolutely terrified of it recurring, and she was paralyzed with fear. She found a guide, a therapist who administered small doses of one of these psychedelics, and helped her along her trip. She discovered this “black mass” underneath her rib cage during the trip, and originally though it was her cancer. The guide helped her understand that it wasn’t cancer, but in reality it was her fear and anxiety. During the trip, she commanded the black mass to leave her body, and it did.

When Pollan’s fact-checker called to verify her account right before the book’s publication, Pollan’s original words were something to the effect of “this black mass was significantly reduced after her experiences with psychedelics.”

The woman corrected the fact-checker over the phone and said, “No, it wasn’t ‘significantly reduced.’ It was extinguished.”

Again, some of my skepticism remains, but as someone who has a diagnosed anxiety disorder (GAD), hearing the woman’s story gave me hope. I truly believe these psychedelics helped her.

For more information, check out the following links:

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

05.15.18

by Laura Beth

Tag #50: This or That Book Tag

Image Credit: The Girl Who Read Too Much

I wasn’t tagged for this one, but if you’ve read the blog lately, I love doing book tags.

When I saw Jenna’s new post, the author of the lovely Bookmark Your Thoughts, come across my email, I was definitely intrigued.

Here’s the link to her post:

This or That Book Tag

Reading on the bed or the couch?

At the moment, it’s my bed. I try really hard to read for at least 30 minutes every night before going to sleep. Reading is one of the only things that really relaxes me.

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Male main character or female main character?

Like others, I used to be immediately drawn to female main characters.

Now, I’m finding myself seeking out more male main characters. It’s a different perspective. Plus, I tend to discover different authors this way, too.

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Sweet snacks or salty snacks when you’re reading?

Neither. I don’t eat while I read.

I have enough trouble multitasking in general!

Occasionally, I have a beverage by my side, but I’m always afraid I’ll spill it.

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Trilogies or quartets?

Trilogies.

However, I’m currently reading more stand-alone books, and I love the idea of duologies, too.

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First person POV or third person POV?

First person.

I honestly can’t remember the last book I read with third person POV.

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Reading at night or in the morning?

I read at night.

The only times that I’ve read in the morning were for, (a) Bible studies; (b) on vacation at the beach; or (c) traveling where I wasn’t the driver.

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Libraries or bookstores?

Toughest. Question. Ever.

Given that I’ve drastically cut my spending habits recently, I think a library sounds amazing right now.

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Books that make you laugh or cry?

It depends. I have been known to stop reading a book before finishing it, and change to a completely new one if the mood is too sad.

At the moment, I lean toward books that make me laugh.

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Black book covers or white book covers?

Black covers.

White covers are easy to stain or scuff.

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Character driven or plot driven?

Definitely character driven.

While I certainly appreciate a good plot, the characters make it or break it for me.

Tag – You’re It!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

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Awesome Authors #15: Orson Scott Card